The Rocking Horse Symbolism

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In the short story “The Rocking Horse Winner”, the author, D. H. Lawrence leaves several underlying mysteries throughout the story for the reader to discover. The progression of the characters lay in the symbolic theme and the unique symbolism. Purposely Lawrence did not provide a narrator which leaves the audience longing to explore more. The symbolic theme and the mysterious symbolism are heavily influenced by how the characters react to the lack of money through their behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs which all change throughout the story. Characters are influenced by other’s opinions causing a change of fundamental beliefs. The young boy, Paul, notices a need in his family. Concerned by the desires for more money, he attempts …show more content…
Spontaneously, the concept of luck can make or break someone. To be lucky means to be special or to be fortunate. According to Hester, luck produces money. If someone believes luck is the solution to everything, in the near future there will be no motivation for that particular person to pursue a better life if they believe they have no luck. By chance, luck can land in someone’s life. Attempting to explain her beliefs to Paul, Hester admits the mysterious nature of luck, “Nobody ever knows why one person is lucky and another unlucky.” (Lawrence 152). Marrying an unlucky man, Hester believes she is now unlucky, and God only knows why. Hester has a lack of luck and therefore produces a passionless mind set. On the other hand, Paul believes he is lucky, which motivates him to make his mother happy. For example, Paul saves all his winnings from the horse races and saves it to give to his mother for her birthday. A belief based on luck helps to motivate Paul to succeed in anything. Knowing if someone is or isn’t lucky, can truly affect the motivation of someone to pursue a particular desire. Due to the misleading symbolism of luck, Hester and Paul are both convinced that the solution to the problem of lack of money is possessing luck.
Even in the title itself, “The Rocking-Horse Winner”, D.H. Lawrence draws attention to a symbolic meaning of innocence throughout the story by the use of a rocking horse. Even in the childish setting of a nursery where the rocking horse would reside, mature responsibilities dwell. Paul takes on the responsibility to provide money to make his mother happy. Readers recognize this innocent symbol of a rocking
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